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Tokyo vs Osaka Escalators: Which Side to Stand On

In Tokyo and the wider Kanto area, most people stand on the left side of an escalator. In Osaka and the Kansai area it flips: most people stand on the right. These are habits, not rules. Railway companies ask everyone to stand still and hold the handrail, and Saitama Prefecture and Nagoya City have ordinances asking escalator users to stand still, with no penalties. The easy way to fit in: stand still, on the same side as the people ahead of you.

By Ready in JapanUpdated 5 official sources

Video cover: Tokyo vs Osaka Escalators: Which Side to Stand OnVideo coming soon

The 20-second video, with Hako. Follow on YouTube to catch it.

The 3 things to know

  1. Tokyo: most people stand on the left

    In Tokyo and the Kanto area, the habit is to stand on the left and leave the right side open.

  2. Osaka: most people stand on the right

    In Osaka and the Kansai area it is the other way round: most people stand on the right.

  3. Stations ask you not to walk

    Campaigns such as Osaka Metro's ask you to stand still and hold the handrail. Saitama Prefecture (since October 2021) and Nagoya City (since October 2023) have ordinances asking people to stand still on escalators.

Quick answers

Is walking on escalators illegal in Japan?

Not in general. Saitama Prefecture and Nagoya City have ordinances asking escalator users to stand still, but they carry no penalties. Railway companies also ask people not to walk.

Which side should I stand on?

Most people stand on the left in Tokyo and on the right in Osaka. Wherever you are, stand still on the same side as the people ahead of you.

Why do stations ask people to stand still?

For safety. Leaving one side open for walkers is described as a safety issue, and campaigns ask everyone to stand and hold the handrail.

Does the Tokyo habit apply everywhere in Japan?

No. The Kanto area (including Tokyo) and the Kansai area (including Osaka) have opposite habits, so watch the people ahead of you.

Read the video transcript

Wrong side. You're blocking everyone.

In Tokyo, people stand on the left.

In Osaka, it flips. Most people stand on the right.

But stations actually ask you not to walk at all.

So stand still, on the same side as the people ahead of you.

Stand still, and you'll fit right in.

Sources & how we checked

The tips on this page were checked against these official pages:

  1. japan.travelJNTO - Japanese Customs and Etiquette
  2. pref.saitama.lg.jpSaitama Prefectural Assembly - Escalator ordinance
  3. city.nagoya.jpNagoya City - Escalator ordinance
  4. trafficnews.jpTraffic News - Osaka Metro escalator campaign
  5. trafficnews.jpTraffic News - Escalator 'don't walk' ordinances spread
Updated
Video
20 seconds, made by Ready in Japan
Good to know
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